Our family is starting a new chapter in our lives. Our oldest just started middle school. Our youngest is in 3rd grade. Husband started a new job. This past month has been one of adjustment in our lives.

Monster started middle school and he loves it. Everything about middle school is exciting for him. Changing classes keeps his attention. His classes are a little more challenging. He's not with the same people all day. Best yet, he likes his teachers! He's been making new friends as well as keeping connections with old friends. He and his best friend have lunch together. Middle school gives him more independence. He rides his bike to school on his own. He stops by a friend's house and then walks his bike the rest of the way to school with his friend. He is in choir and has signed up to be in Robotics. He is also applying to be a tutor at his elementary school. I love watching him as he blossoms into an independent young man. I also miss my baby.

Sunshine, on the other hand, is not having as great of a time at school as her brother. This year, she really does not like school. We thought it was going to be a great year. She is in class with one of her best friends. She is good at school. She has loved school since before she even started school. Unfortunately, this year got off to a bad start. There has been girl drama in her class, which started week one of school. This has set the tone for her for school so far. She has become far less secure in her abilities and has actually regressed in all subjects. She's still good at school, but she's no longer confident. We just keep trying to build her up at home and practice with her in hopes that it will make her more self-assured while at school. This is also the first year she has not had her brother at school with her. She misses him since they don't get much time together now. Before school, the two of them used to play every morning. Now, he's already off to school before she wakes up. After school, we are running from place to place. Three nights a week, he doesn't even get home until bedtime. Monster is her best friend, so it's difficult for her not to be with his as much.

Husband is enjoying his new job. He comes home saying he had a good day. I haven't hear that in 9 and a half years. This new job is better for him mentally as well as physically. He is no longer climbing on heavy machinery and having to do very hard physical labor. He is in an office the majority of the day. This, however, is the most difficult transition for me.

I love that Husband likes his new job. I believe that this switch was good for him. He was miserable, for years, at his old job. The problem, for me, is time. While he doesn't travel anymore, he still works long days. Shouldn't be much of a change from his past long days, but it is. He no longer can make his own schedule. That means I can't count on him to be home if I need him. On top of that, he works an hour away, so, if I was counting on him and traffic is bad, he still may not make it in time. This makes getting meals made and kids where they need to be very stressful for me. There is no one other than myself to get the kids where they need to go and I physically can not be in two places at once. Making it more difficult is that he now works some Saturdays as well. He's never worked Saturdays. Again, it makes it very hard because I have two children who need to be in two places at once. Monster is an amazing big brother because he gives up going to karate, which he loves to be there to cheer on his sister in soccer so that she has more than just me out there rooting for her. Having no one to count on starts to take a toll on your mental state after a while. I'm working on it and I fully support Husband with this job. This job is good for him, and that's what really matters.

If you see me running around, looking frazzled, it's because I'm in a transitioning phase. Eventually, it will get better. For now, be please just give me grace.